enfermo
“enfermo” means “sick” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
sick, ill
Also: unhealthy, diseased
📝 In Action
Hoy no voy a la escuela porque estoy enfermo.
A1I'm not going to school today because I'm sick.
Mi gato ha estado enfermo toda la semana.
A2My cat has been ill all week.
Tiene una mente enferma y retorcida.
B2He has a sick and twisted mind.
patient, sick person
📝 In Action
El enfermo está en la habitación 204.
A2The patient is in room 204.
La Cruz Roja ayuda a los enfermos y heridos.
B1The Red Cross helps the sick and injured.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: enfermo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'The female patient is resting'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word `infirmus`, which literally meant 'not firm' or 'not strong'. It's a combination of `in-` (not) and `firmus` (firm, strong). So, being sick was seen as being weak or frail.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between `estar enfermo` and `ser enfermo`?
`Estar enfermo` is what you'll use 99% of the time. It means you are sick right now—with a cold, the flu, etc. It's a temporary state. `Ser enfermo` is very rare and describes a permanent characteristic. You might use it for someone who has a chronic, lifelong illness, essentially saying they are 'a sickly person'.
Can I say 'Me siento enfermo'?
Yes, absolutely! `Me siento enfermo` means 'I feel sick' and is a very common and natural way to express that you're not feeling well. It's often interchangeable with `Estoy enfermo`.